Pakistani Citizen Arrested for Alleged Terror Plot Against Jewish Community in NYC

Pakistani Citizen Arrested for Alleged Terror Plot in New York City

A 20-year-old Pakistani citizen, Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, was apprehended in Quebec this week, facing serious accusations of conspiring to kill “as many Jewish civilians as possible” in New York City. This alleged plot was reportedly set to take place on or around the first anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel, according to a Justice Department complaint that was unsealed on Friday.

Khan, who resided in Canada, attempted to cross the border into the United States with the intent of executing a mass shooting at a Jewish community center located in Brooklyn. Prosecutors stated that he aimed to carry out this attack in support of the Islamic State.

In a chilling message to an associate, Khan expressed his views, stating, “New York is perfect to target Jews,” and added, “We could rack up easily a lot of Jews.” He also claimed that his planned attack would be “the largest attack on US soil since 9/11,” as detailed in the court filing.

Khan was taken into custody by Canadian authorities on Wednesday after he attempted to enter the United States from Ormstown, a location approximately 12 miles north of the New York State border. Prosecutors noted that he changed vehicles three times during his journey, possibly in an effort to avoid detection.

The complaint, which has been filed in the Southern District of New York, also references an unnamed associate involved in the case. However, it remains unclear whether this individual is currently in custody, at large, or acting as an informant.

Khan is facing one count of attempting to provide material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization, specifically ISIS, and he could face a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison if convicted.